The Russian national football team began preparations for the 2020 European Championship qualifying matches with the national teams of Scotland and Cyprus. The first training took place on Monday at a base near Moscow in Novogorsk.
In the lesson, which was of a restorative nature, all the players took part. According to the individual program, only the Zenit midfielder Daler Kuzyaev worked, but he was also on the field with the rest of the players. In addition, on the eve of the coaching staff had to urgently call in the location of the forward of “Wings of the Soviets” Alexander Sobolev. He replaced Fedor Smolov, who was injured in the match of the 12th round of the Russian Premier League (RPL) with the Tula Arsenal.
Despite the fact that in the morning the thermometer was approaching zero, the athletes went to training in high spirits, and striker Artyom Dziuba joked with Spartak goalkeeper Artyom Rebrov, who had missed two goals on the eve of the match against Krasnodar.
“Yes, I will be better than Rebrov,” the forward said.
The main thing is not to freeze 👃и👂👂 pic.twitter.com/9wEVxuOGaY
- Russian team (@TeamRussia) October 7, 2019The lesson again was not without guests. This time, it was possible for children with developmental disabilities to observe the team’s training. They not only talked with their idols and took a photo with them, but at the invitation of Dziuba they examined the team bus.
Another visitor to the Moscow Region base was a fourth-grade student, Prokhor Ilinykh, who became famous throughout the country after the scandalous story that occurred at his school in Sosnovoborsk. The director, according to the boy’s parents, threatened the boy with expulsion if he doesn’t get rid of a peculiar hairstyle - shaved temples and a ponytail - the same as his favorite football player Zlatan Ibrahimovic wears. The story received wide publicity. The young fan was supported by many athletes and celebrities, and the leadership of the Russian Football Union (RFU) invited him to training and match the national team.
Wards Stanislav Cherchesov will meet with Scotland on October 10 in the Moscow “Luzhniki”. The match will be served by a Danish referee team led by Jacob Kehleta.
“Only batteries need to be turned on”
After training, Cherchesov was the first to answer journalists' questions. He shared his views on the preparation of the team for the upcoming matches, noting that the coaching staff is trying not to force events and not be distracted by extraneous problems.
“There is a standings, but there is a quality of the game. Today there will be another theory. We’ll talk, we’ll analyze the match with Scotland, look at some points, ”the Sport Express specialist quotes.
Some of the questions related to the call of Sobolev, to whom many experts had long predicted a place in the team. The mentor emphasized that the choice in favor of the attacker was made deliberately, and not because the loss of Smolov took the team by surprise.
“Everything should go the natural way. God has sent us this time to call him. Artificial benefits do not bring, neither in life, nor in football for sure. Sobolev is now deservedly here. Last night we talked with him and Dmitry Chistyakov. The main thing is that everyone feels himself a full member of the team in the national team, and not that he was called here at the request of the workers, ”Cherchesov added.
In his opinion, the situation inside the clubs is largely reflected in the atmosphere in the national team. In this regard, “Spartak” and “Dynamo”, actually left without head coaches, it is necessary to determine this position as soon as possible.
“And then, after all, from Dynamo there is not a single person in the national team. This is probably no coincidence, players do not show their level. In the press, different candidates are called - young, experienced. For example, Valery Gazzayev. His authority is not in doubt. It doesn’t matter if Spartak is headed by a Russian or a foreigner. The main thing is that the clubs decide, because we are dependent on them, ”said the specialist.
On October 7, Russian President Vladimir Putin celebrates his 67th birthday. The press service of the team congratulated the head of state through social networks, and the head coach chose to contact him through the media.
“For my part, I can only modestly call the president to our match,” Cherchesov said.
View this Instagram post
Head coach of the Russian national team Stanislav Cherchesov is waiting for you on October 10 at Luzhniki Stadium! 🇷🇺🏴 ⠀ #Russian national team #OurGuys #RussiaScotland
Publication from Russian National Football Team (@teamrussia) Oct 7, 2019 at 3:29 pm PDT
In conclusion, he expressed joy that for the first time in a long time, the Russians will hold their match not only in the capital, but also in the country's main football stadium.
“This is pleasant for everyone, including me. But you just need to turn on the batteries, ”the mentor joked.
“There was no joke from Dziuba yet”
After Cherchesov, the players themselves went to the media. Sobolev admitted that he is experiencing extremely positive emotions from a call to the national team.
"I am glad. Did you wait for a call? When the lists were already there, I no longer waited. He calmly flew home to Samara and did not even think that they could call. After the call, Instagram subscribers were added. But these are trifles, ”the forward said.
In addition, he told how his teammates and coaching staff accepted him.
“Yesterday I talked with Cherchesov. He greeted, asked how the mood was, whether I was ready to join the team and begin the training process. Any football player sets a goal for himself - to get into the national team. I just did not expect that this could happen, ”Sobolev said.
Another newcomer to the national team was the defender of “Rostov” Dmitry Chistyakov. He especially noted the atmosphere prevailing in Novogorsk and shared his impressions of the first training.
“He came out with pleasant, exciting feelings. There was even a little jerk. There was no joke from Dziuba yet. It’s nice that now I’m in a team with football players that I used to watch on TV, ”Chistyakov admitted.
He noted that he did not expect a call from the coaching staff for the next matches of the national team.
“Just six months ago, I still played in the Football National League (FNL). Every footballer strives to play in the national team. For this season I set myself the task of gaining a foothold in the club, it worked. Got a call to the national team. It's nice. Cherchesov said that I should work and prove that everything will be, ”the defender added.
In turn, Spartak midfielder Zelimkhan Bakaev noted that he was trying not to think about problems in his team while he was in the camp of the national team.
“Psychologically I feel normal. We have an important goal - we need to win in the next matches and go to the Euro. Because of this thought, only about this game - and nothing more. I will return to the club - there will already be thoughts about the club. Yes, we have problems, and if you think about it, then the team will not be all right either. And we have a historic match ahead, ”the Championship quoted the footballer.
In addition, he expressed the hope that the coaching staff will allow him to appear on the field in a home meeting.
“I have never played in Luzhniki before. If released, it will be a great honor to play in such a stadium. I watched the match between Russia and Spain at home, at home, in Ingushetia, ”said Bakaev.